ANAHEIM, Calif. — For the last several seasons, the Flyers have used a company called Catapult that uses positional tracking devices on the players during practice. The NHL doesn’t allow it in games and many other teams also use the technology in practice to track things like acceleration and energy levels.

Starting next year, the league hopes to use tracking technology in games too and share the data with MGM Resorts and other betting agencies for use in prop bets.

“We're in the process of working with some technology companies to invent technology that doesn't currently exist, because it's more complicated to do this than in any of the other sports for a whole host of reasons which relate to the attributes of our games, the physical contact, the sticks, the speed and everything else,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters back in December at the Board of Governors meetings. “But we're committed to doing it and we're investing a fair amount of money to do it.”

It will also, potentially, make them a lot of money.

The NHL announced the multi-year partnership with MGM Resorts Monday in New York on the heels of the Supreme Court decision that legalized sports gambling back in May.

“The new sports betting landscape presents a unique opportunity for fan engagement utilizing technology and data that are exclusive to our league,” Bettman told reporters Monday in New York. “Fan engagement, technological advancement and innovation are paramount to our progressive approach and will be at the forefront of everything we do.”

That information is also expected to be used in broadcasts to show the velocity of shots or speed of players skating.

So far, the Flyers have no issue with that.

“Some guys are gonna be against it. Some guys are gonna be for it. But it’s for a good thing,” said Radko Gudas, the Flyers’ players association representative. “It’s not always the fastest guy that’s the best guy. Timing is everything in this game. Some guys are slower than the other ones but they’re in the right spot at the right moments.”

“As long as you keep the players out of it (in terms of betting themselves),” Wayne Simmonds added, “I don’t think there is any effect.”

Gudas said the tune of the players’ association is that they’re all for making more money and while Bettman said the NHL isn’t getting a cut of the bets themselves, they are splitting revenue from the marketing partnerships with the NHLPA.

So far, still good.

“I’m the wrong guy to ask,” Jake Voracek said. “I’m going out there trying to play my best. If I have something on my back or not or if somebody uses the information so they can make a bet, I don’t give a (crap). That’s the way I look at it.”

What happens when it does affect the players?

If data that is meant to be used for betting is also used as an evaluation tool, that changes the players’ tunes. What happens if that data then becomes available for use in contract negotiations?

“That’s a great question,” Voracek said. “I don’t think it should be used in contracts, but obviously they will use it. They want to get you as cheap as you can, but if you play good, you get a good contract.”

No formal agreement exists, but according to a league source the data likely won’t be permitted for use in contract negotiations or salary arbitration.

“I think that’s a joke to be quite honest,” Simmonds said. “I really don’t think you could use that. You’d have to pass that by the PA to be quite honest. I don’t know if guys would go for that.”